Last year, Taravella finished second to Douglas, but this go-round will find the Trojans competing at the state tournament beginning next Wednesday in Longwood.

"In the middle of the year, I got disheartened with them and told them if they didn't play as a team I was going to resign. I even typed the letter," said Taravella coach Glenn Townsend. "After their performance, I told them the letter was shredded."

Four of the Trojans top five singles players advanced to the finals, but only Widlansky won on a brutally hot afternoon at Cypress Hammock Park.

The best match of the day was a 3-hour marathon between Taravella's Glenn Shor and Western's Eric Schraibman. The pair of juniors displayed a wide arsenal of shots before Schraibman won 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.

"Next year will be our year," Schraibman said.

Western, which was hurt by an early exit in doubles, took three singles finals. Daniel Kondratowitch and Andres Gutierrez were the other Wildcat winners.